Battery change with a Altrider engine guard

talreli

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I am in the process of changing the battery....somehow I was able to get the old one out, but can't seem to fit the new one in the space between the engine guard and the bike. Any ideas of how to do this without taking off the guards. I recall that their initial installation was somewhat challanging.


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MFP

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I am in the process of changing the battery....somehow I was able to get the old one out, but can't seem to fit the new one in the space between the engine guard and the bike. Any ideas of how to do this without taking off the guards. I recall that their initial installation was somewhat challanging.


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You have to come up from the bottom of the ALT Riders through the middle with the battery vertical then turning the battery sideways
to lessen its profile.
 

kingfisher

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Watch out for the orientation of the battery when you slip it in place; it is easy to rotate it in wrong and end up with the terminals reversed from the usual position. If you continue to be inattentive, you can hook it up wrong and fry your 50 amp main fuse. Ask me how I know this...
 

MFP

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Supposedly just loosening the bolts will give you the extra room you need.
No need to, it works fine the way I mentioned to do it but I realize my description is not ultra detailed.
The first time I did it (Summer of '18 installing a new batt) I was Hell-bent on not loosening the bolts or removing the ALTs.
 

MFP

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Watch out for the orientation of the battery when you slip it in place; it is easy to rotate it in wrong and end up with the terminals reversed from the usual position. If you continue to be inattentive, you can hook it up wrong and fry your 50 amp main fuse. Ask me how I know this...
Funny you mention this, when I did the new batt install and I realized that I had to turn the batt around a bit I figured it would be best to take some red tape to ID the + terminal so as to not reverse the terminals as you stated.
 

talreli

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Watch out for the orientation of the battery when you slip it in place; it is easy to rotate it in wrong and end up with the terminals reversed from the usual position. If you continue to be inattentive, you can hook it up wrong and fry your 50 amp main fuse. Ask me how I know this...
:))))))))

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talreli

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Thanks too all. I ended up loosing the guard bolts a bit and get it in. Unfortunately, one of the side bolts went all the way out....and I will need to do some gymnastics to get it back in.

On the upside, the replacement is a Lithium Ion battery. A fraction of the weight with a much stronger cranking power that the original one had in its best day. Just note that you need a special Li Ion battery tender if you go this way.

Cheers.

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Madhatter

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I have never had to loosen the altrider bars for a battery swap , kinda like a magic trip finding the right angle …. so if your old lead acid came out ok , then the smaller lithium should go in easy … I have gone from lead to lithium back to lead in 7 plus of ownership.... lithium don't like cold ...
 

Timbo2

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Feb 28, 2018
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You have to come up from the bottom of the ALT Riders through the middle with the battery vertical then turning the battery sideways
to lessen its profile.
Cheers MFP - you just saved me from a bunch of pain!
 
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